Holding magnet for ferromagnetic foreign bodies in ruminants



J1me 1965' e. ROSENBERGER ETAL 3,187,239

HOLDING MAGNET FOR FERROMAGNETIC FOREIGN BODIES IN RUMINANTS Filed Nov.16, 1962:

Fig. 1

PERMANENT MAGNET ,6 R INVENTORS 121W $15601.

amp, Budd}, smwm United States Patent HOLDING MAGNET FOR FERROMAGNETICFOREIGN BODIES IN RUMINANTS Gustav Rosenberger, Bischefsholer Damm 74,and

Matthaeus Stiiber, Rautenstr. 27, both of Hannover, Germany Filed Nov.16, 1962, Ser. No. 238,257

7 Claims. (Cl. 317-201) This invention relates to a holding magnet and,more particularly, to a magnet for attracting and holding ferromagneticforeign bodies in the internal organs of animals.

In accordance with conventional practice, a magnet is deposited in thestomach of cattle, for example, for the purpose of attracting pieces ofiron which they have eaten along with grass and hay. The holding magnetgathers the pieces of iron so that they remain in the stomach where theyare of less danger to the health of the animal.

One type of magnet which is used for preventing disease in cattle causedby iron particles is a cylindrical permanent magnet of aboutthree-quarters of an inch in diameter with rounded ends. It is insertedinto the stomach through the throat. The magnet remains in the stomachduring the life of the animal and due to the natural movements of thestomach, the magnet travels around in the stomach collectingferromagnetic foreign bodies.

Experiments which have been conducted over a considerable period of timehave indicated that the cylindrical magnets do not prevent disease incattle to the extent desired. It has been found that long foreign bodiesextend beyond the ends of the magnets and although they are attached tothe magnet, they are nevertheless in position to pierce the stomachwalls of the animal. thermore, foreign bodies located in the stomach orother organs of the animal do not always attach themselves to the magnetlongitudinally of the magnet. Often, the iron foreign bodies attachthemselves at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the magnet. Thus,the magnet with the iron particles adhering to it forms a hedgehog withthe sharp points of the particles extending perpendicularly to thecentral axis of the magnet, which, due to the weight of the magnet andparticles cause severe lesions in the walls of the organ andparticularly along the mucous membrane of the reticulum. Furthermore,the hedgehog is relatively compact and due to the small contact surfacearea, the specific pressure on the mucous membrane of the stomach andsimilar parts of the animal is extremely high.

In view of the ineffectiveness of conventional holding magnets from ironparticles in preventing disease, it is an object of this invention toprovide a holding magnet which attracts and holds iron particles out ofcontact with the walls of the internal organs of animals.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holding magnet whichexerts a minimum of pressure on the (walls of the internal organs ofcattle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a holding magnetwhich orients the iron particles on the magnet parallel to the centralaxis of the magnet.

These objects are accomplished in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the invention by a bar magnet which is surrounded by a cage. The cageis formed of two rounded caps on opposite ends of the magnet and barsextending therebetween. The diameter of the caps is substantiallygreater than that of the bar magnet and a plurality of bars are spacedcircumferentially around the edge of the caps and extend between theopposing faces of the caps to form a cage around the bar magnet. Themagnet attracts ferromagnetic foreign bodies which may be in the organof the animal and retains the foreign Fur- 3,187,239 Patented June 1,1965 bodies in the space between the bars and the surface of the barmagnet. If the pieces of iron are long and slender, the bars of the cagedirect the iron pieces into alignment with the longitudinal axis of thebar magnet.

The rounded caps on opposite ends of the magnet, which have a largerdiameter than that of the magnet, prevent iron particles from protrudingbeyond the ends of the bar magnet and, except in the case ofexceptionally long iron pieces, the points of sharp iron particles areinsulated from the contact with the walls of the organs of the animal.The cage, including the rounded caps, also substantially increases thesurface area of the holding magnet so that there is less localizedpressure exerted on the walls of the stomach or other organs.

This preferred embodiment of the holding magnet is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the holding magnet according to thisinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line 22 in FIG. 1.

A cylindrical permanent magnet 1 is surrounded by a cage. The cageincludes rounded caps 2 and 3 which are attached to opposite ends of themagnet 1. A plurality of bars 4 are spaced circumferentially around theouter edge of the caps and extend between the caps 2 and 3. The bars 4are joined to the opposing faces 2a and 3a, respectively, of the roundedcaps 2 and 3. The bars 4 therefore, are arranged in a circle which issubstantially concentric with the magnetic core 1. Any number of barsmay be provided and the bars may have any desired shape. It ispreferred, however, that the cross-section of the bars 4 be circular.

The opposing faces 2a and 3a of the caps 2 and 3 are provided with hubs2b and 3b. Opposite ends of the magnet 1 are secured in the hubs 2b and312 by any suitable means.

It is preferred that the caps 2 and 3 and the bars 4 be formed of asynthetic plastic material which is capable of being sterilized.

The holding magnet of this invention is introduced, for example, intothe stomach of an animal. As a result of the constant movement of thestomach wall, the ferromagnetic foreign bodies are carried into thevicinity of the magnet. Due to the attraction of these iron bodies bythe magnet 1, they are induced to become attached to the magnet 1. Thebars 4 guide the iron bodies into a position which is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the magnet 1. The foreign bodies are thereby lodgedin the space between the bars 4, the surface of the magnet 1 and theopposing faces 2a and 3a of the caps 2 and 3.

Accordingly, the cage formed by the bars 4 and caps 2 and 3 of theholding magnet of this invention insure that iron particles do notbecome attached to the magnet 1 perpendicularly to the longitudinal axisof the magnet. Formation of a hedgehog, therefore, is impossible. Theholding magnet of this invention can be used over long periods of timewithout causing injury to the internal organs of animals. Furthermore,the protrusion of short sharply pointed iron particles beyond the endsof the magnet is also avoided. The opposing faces of the caps 2a and 3aand the bars 4 form a guard over the metal which adheres to themagnet 1. Thus, the holding magnet provides a compact structure forattracting iron particles, but also for guarding the walls of the organsfrom injury by the particles after they become attached to the magnet.

Experiments conducted on animals using the holding magnet of thisinvention indicate that the device is entirely harmless. No damage tothe internal organ of animals has been observed. It has been foundeffective to attract and to hold between the individual bars 4 and thecaps 2 and 3 of the cage all iron particles normally found in an animalsstomach. No iron particles were found to be extending outwardly beyondthe ends of the caps 2 and 3.

While this invention has been illustrated and described in oneembodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be madetherein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A holding magnet device for attracting and holding ferromagneticforeign bodies in animal internal organs comprising an elongated magnet,a cage enclosing said magnet, said cage having a plurality of slotstherein, said slots extending substantially parallel to said magnet andbeing substantially coextensive with said magnet, said cage beingnonmagnetic and said magnet being rigidly secured in said cage, wherebyelongated ferromagnetic bodies are aligned with the magnet as they areattracted by the magnet and pass into one of the slots.

2. A holding magnet device for attracting and holding ferromagneticforeign bodies in animal internal organs comprising an elongated magnet,a cage enclosing said magnet, said ca-ge including a cap on eachopposite end of the magnet and having a plurality of slots therein, saidslots extending substantially parallel to said magnet and beingsubstantially coextensive with said magnet, said cage being nonmagneticand said magnet being rigidly secured in said cage, whereby elongatedferromagnetic bodies are aligned with the magnet as they are attractedby the magnet and pass into one of the slots.

3. A holding magnet device for attracting and holding ferromagneticforeign bodies in animal internal organs comprising an elongated magnet,a cage enclosing said magnet, said cage being substantially cylindricaland coaxial with said magnet and having a plurality of continuouselongated slots therein extending substantially.

parallel to said magnet and substantially the entire length thereof,said cage being nonmagnetic and being spaced radially from said magnetwhereby elongated ferromagnetic bodies are aligned with the magnet asthey are attracted by the magnet and pass through one of the slots. 6

4. A holding magnet for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreignbodies in animal internal organs comprising a bar magnet, caps onopposite ends of the magnet, and bars extending between the caps, saidbars being nonmagnetic and spaced from the magnet and said bars be- 4ing spaced from each other, whereby elongated foreign bodies passbetween the bars and are lodged between the magnet and the bars.

5'. A holding magnet for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreignbodies in animal internal organs comprising a bar magnet, circular capson opposite ends of the magnet and bars extending between the caps, saidbars being nonmagnetic and spaced apart circumferentially around thecaps and being spaced radially from the bar magnet, whereby elongatedforeign bodies pass between the bars and are lodged between the magnetand the bars.

6. A holding magnet comprising a bar magnet, circular caps on oppositeends of the magnet and bars extending between the caps, said bars beingspaced apart circumferentially around the caps and being spaced radiallyfrom the bar magnet, said caps and said bars being formed of anon-magnetic, plastic material, whereby elongated foreign bodies passbetween the bars and are lodged between the magnet and the bars.

7. A holding magnet comprising a bar magnet, circular caps, said capshaving hubs on one face, means securing the hubs to the bar magnet, andbars secured at opposite ends to the caps, said caps and said bars beingnonmagnetic, said bars being spaced apart ciroumferentially around thecaps and being spaced radially from the bar magnet, whereby elongatedforeign bodies pass between the bars and are lodged between the magnetand the bars.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,149,971 8/15Wagoner 128-13 2,149,764 3/39 Frei 209-215 X 2,52A,972 10/50 Hamilton12'8'1.3 2,753,870 7/56 Muffly. 2,844,363 7/58 Clark 317201 X 3,005,45810/61 Brook et al. 128356 3,136,553 6/ 64 Davis 46242 X FOREIGN PATENTS875,065 7 6/42 France. 136,851 3/61 Russia.

OTHER REFERENCES Rosenberger et al.: 1,136,791, September 20, 1962(German printed application). 5

JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. WILDMAN, LARAMIE E. ASKIN, E. JAMES SAX, Examiners. a

1. A HOLDING MAGNET DEVICE FOR ATTRACTING AND HOLDING FERROMAGNETICFOREIGN BODIES IN ANIMAL INTERNAL ORGANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MAGNET,A CAGE ENCLOSING SAID MAGNET, SAID CAGE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLOTSTHEREIN, SAID SLOTS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID MAGNET ANDBEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID MAGNET, SAID CAGE BEINGNONMAGNETIC AND SAID MAGNET BEING RIGIDLY SECURED IN SAID CAGE, WHEREBYELONGATED FERROMAGNETIC BODIES ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MAGNET AS THEY AREATTRACTED BY THE MAGNET AND PASS INTO ONE OF THE SLOTS.